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Are there any prescription treatments for scabies?

Scabies is a skin condition caused by a burrowing organism called a mite. This infestation causes intense itching, which is often worse at night. The symptoms usually take 30 days to develop after exposure. When one person gets scabies, it's best to treat everyone living in that person's house, even if they don't immediately develop a rash. Close contacts of an infected person should also be treated. This includes family, friends and caretakers.

Prescription treatments for scabies include Elimite (generic name permethrin), >Eurax (crotamiton), and Kwell (lindane). Reports show Elimite is more effective than Eurax and Lindane. In medical studies, Elimite cured scabies up to 98 percent of the time. Eurax and Kwell are effective about 85 percent of the time. Pregnant women and children should not use Kwell. When you apply these products, you should cover skin all the way from the neck to the soles of the feet. Be sure to include the palms of your hands and soles of your feet. Rub the medicine in completely. Leave it on your skin for eight to 12 hours and then bathe or shower to remove it. With Elimite, your doctor may ask you to treat your scalp and forehead as well. Avoid getting this medicine in your eyes, nose, or mouth.

>Stromectol (ivermectin) is a tablet that is taken by mouth to treat scabies. In studies, it was about 75 percent effective for curing scabies.

In addition to drug treatment, you should wash your bed linens, towels, and recently worn clothing to remove the mites.

Itching and rash from scabies often continue for a few weeks after successful treatment. This is because the body is still reacting to the dead mites.

Sources:
The Merck Manual of Medical Information: Home Edition. Merck & Co., 1997.
Mayo Clinic Family Health Book. William Morrow & Co., 1996.
Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. American Pharmaceutical Association,1996.
Drug Facts and Comparisons. Facts & Comparisons, 2007.
Habif, Thomas. Clinical Dermatology. Mosby-Year Book Inc., 1996.
Mandell. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 5th ed., Churchill Livingstone, Inc. 2000.
Micromedex® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2007.
Usha V. “A comparative study of oral ivermectin and topical permethrin cream in the treatment of scabies” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (42) 2000.
Diseases and Conditions, "Scabies." http://www.mayoclinic.com. Mayo Clinic Health. Last accessed 1/4/2007.